of phoenix



PACKING Filed Jan. 21. 1929 INVENTOR H c RUGGLES 7 ATTORNEYS Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HIRAM C. RUGGLES, 0F PHOENIX, ARIZONA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN AITKEN, 0F PHOENIX, ARIZONA PACKING Application filed January 21', 1929. Serial No. 333,953.

This invention relates to packing, and more especially to that type of packing commonly employed in various mechanisms for establishing a fluid-tight seal between two portions of a mechanism, which are movable in respect to each other such as a piston rod of a double acting piston, which is reciprocable in respect to the cylinder head through which the rod extends, and which consequently requires the provision of some means for preventing the escape of steam or other fluid through the aperture in the head through which the rod extends. I

An object of my invention is the provision of an improved type of metallic packing adaptable for use as steam packing, in connection with a steam operated piston, or as fluid packing as in piston pumps.

A further object is the provision of a metallie packing which is equally adaptable for use in connection with either longitudinally moving rods or portable rods.

A still further object is the provision of a metallic packing having the above listed characteristics, and which is generally superior in efiiciency and serviceability to the packings now commonly employed.

The invention possesses other objects and advantageous features, some of which, with those enumerated, will be set forth in the following description of the inventions particular embodiment which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the specification.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal, medial sectional view taken through a stufiing-box and a packing incorporating the features of my invention, mounted therein to establish a fluid-tight seal between a movable rod and the stuffingbox.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of one of the component rings of the stufiing-box of Fig. 1, with the associated packing blocks disposed therein in operative position. A portion of the figure is broken away and shown in section to disclose certain details of the invention. The direction of view is indicated by the arrow 2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a transverse, medial sectional view, the plane of section being taken upon the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, with the direction of view as indicated.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the packing blocks removed.

Fig. 5 is a plan view ofone of the packing blocks.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, the direction of view being indicated by the arrow 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a slightly modified form of construction.

Fig. 8 is a transverse, medial sectional view, the plane of section being indicated by the line 88 of Fig. 7, with the direction of View as indicated.

The packing of my invention is designed to establish a fluid-tightseal between any type of moving rod such as a piston rod 11, which extends through and is movable in respect to any partition such as a cylinder head 13.

The packing which is indicated in its entirety at 14, is receivable within a bore 16 of the conventional type of stufiing-box 17, which is preferably cast integral with the cylinder head 13, and is provided at its outer end with studs 18 having nuts 19 thereon, by means of which a gland 21 may be forced inwards of the stufiing-boxto retain the packing 14 in position.

Specifically describing the packing 14 in the most practical form thereof, of which I am at present aware, it is composed of a plurality of rings 26, each of which has an annular flange 27 extending from one side thereof at the outer periphery of the ring. The ring 26 is so proportioned that its inside diameter is slightly greater than the diameter of the rod 11 of the particular installation; and the outside diameter of the flange 27 is such that the ring 26 is receivable within the stufling-box 17. Internal threads 28 are formed at the extremity of the flange 27; and at the other end of the ring 26, external threads 29 are formed, the threads 29 being complementary to the threads 28 so that a plurality of the rings 26 may be intercom nected to form a rigid cylindrical assembly receivable within the bore 16 of the stuflingbox-17 and encircling the rod 11 as clearly shown upon Fig. 1. The threads 29 terminate in a shoulder 31, against which the extremity of the flange 27 of the next ring abuts to space the rings 26 and thus define as annular rocess 32 between each pair of rings 26, and

opening into the bore of the assembled packing 14.

An expansible annulus composed of a plurality of packing blocks 33, is disposed in each of the annular recesses 32. The blocks are so proportioned that they are slidable within their recesses and are inter-connected by means of: tongues 34 and 36 upon opposite ends thereof, so as to present a continuous annulus. The tongues 34 and 36 correspond in thickness to substantially half that of the block 33 measured radially of the annulus, and are disposed as continuations of the block 33 at its inner periphery 37. Moreover, the tongues 34 and 36 correspond in thickness to one-half the block 33 measured along a line parallel to the axis of the annulus, and are disposed upon opposite ends of the block as clearly shown upon Fig. 6. Consequently, recesses 38 and 39' are formed beside the tongues 34 and 36 respectively, within which the tongues of the next adjacent blocks are disposed in the assembled annulus. To tacilitate manufacture, each of the blocks 33 may be composed of two parts and secured together in misalignment, as clearly shown upon Fig. 6.

It is to be observed that'while the outer periphery 41 of the body 42 of each block, and the inner periphery 37 are both arc-uate, the outer surface 43 of each of the tongues 34 and 36 is straight, with the result that the blocks may freely separate from each other as when moving radially outwards within their associated recess 32.

The blocks 33 are restrained against circumferential movement within their respee tive recesses 32, by means of projections 46 extending from the flange 27 of each ring into the recesses 32 and between each pair of blocks These projections 46 are trapezoidal in form, with each of its non-parallel sides 47 disposed in parallelism withthe diameter of the ring measured through the center or" the block 33 adjacent that side 47. Similarly, the ends 48 of the body portion 42 of each block 33, are formed parallel to a diameter measured through the center of the block 33, and the body portion 42 is so proportioned that it may slide radially between two of the projections 46. Consequently, the blocks 33 are permitted to slide radially within their recesses 32, but are restrained against circumferential movement. The projections 46 may either be formed integrally with the rings 26, or may be formed separate therefrom and fastened to the rings as'by dowels 49. Each block 33 has an indentation 51 in its outer surface, within which a coil spring 52 is under compression between the bottom of the indentation 51 and the associated flange 27, urging the block 33 radially inwards against the rod 11. It is therefore made apparent that each recess 32 has disposed therein an expansible annulus composed of a plurality of blocks 33, which is resiliently contracted against the rod 11. These blocks 33 may be composed of any suitable relatively sott metal such as lead, babbitt, or a combination of graphite and babbitt. Consequently the blocks 33 will be subject to wear as the rod 11 rcciprocates therepast without danger of unduly scoring the rod. The sliding engagement of the several annuli, with the rod 11, will serve to break the fluid pressure and prevent escape of the fluid past the packing 14 with the rod 11.

[in insertion 56 of. felt or other suitable material, is provided upon the innermost ring 57, which is pressed against the bottom 58 of the bore 16 of the stuffing-box 1.7 when the gland 21 is tightened against the packing 14, thus establishing a fluid-proof seal between the outside of the packing 14 and the stufiing-box 17. Furthermore, a gasket 59 of felt or other suitable material, is interposed between the bottom of the gland 21 and the outermost ring 61 which is smooth on its outer end instead of being provided with an annular flange as are the other rings.

In Figs. 7 and 8, a slightly modified form is shown wherein instead of being provided with compression springs interposed between the blocks and the rings, a continuous spring 66 encircles each of the assembled annuli, each or these springs being under tension, tending to contract the associated annulus. For the accommodation of this continuous spring 66, the guiding projections 67 are shorter than in the other modification, so that the spring 66 may extend therepast without interference. In other respects, this modification is constructed similarly to, and operates in the same manner as that previously described.

It is to be understood that the details of the invention as herein disclosed, are subject to alteration within the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a rod movably mounted within a striding-box, a packing comprising a plurality of rings inter-connected to form a rigid assen'ibly receivable within said stufiing-bo and encircling said rod, means spacing said rings to define annular reccsses thercbetween opening into the bore of said assembly, a plurality of arcuate packing blocks slidably disposed in each of said recesses, means urging said blocks radially inwards against said rod, guides on said rings limiting the movement of each of said blocks to radial movement, said guides extending inwards from the outer periphery of said recess and terminating short of the inner periphery thereof, and an extension on ally inwards against said rod, guides on said rings limiting the movement of each of said blocks to radial movement, and a tongue extending from an end of each of said blocks and slidably engaging the adjacent block.

3. In combination with a rod movably mounted within a stufiing-box, a packing comprising a plurality of rings, an annular flange extending from the outer periphery of each ring, each of said flanges having threads engageable with complementary threads in another ring to form a rigid assembly receivable within said stufling-box and encircling said rod, said threads being limited in extent to space said rings and present annular recesses opening into the bore of said assembly, a plurality of arcuate packing blocks slidably disposed in each of said recesses, resilient means urging said blocks radially inwards against said rod, guides extending between said blocks and from the outer periphery of said recesses toward the inner periphcry, and a tongue extending from an end of each block across the end of the associated guide and slidably engaging the adjacent block in the same recess.

4. In combination with a rod movably mounted within a stufling-box, a packing comprising an annular housing encircling said rod and having an annular recess opening into the bore thereof, a plurality of arcuate packing blocks slidably disposed in each of said recesses, means urging said blocks radially inwards against said rod, and guides on said housing slidably engaging the ends of said blocks and extending inwards from the outer periphery of said recesses and terminating short of the inner periphery thereof, each of said blocks having an extension on each end thereof engaging the proximal extension of the adjacent block.

5. In combination with a rod movably mounted within a stufling-box, a packing comprising an annular housing encircling said rod and having an annular recess opening into the bore thereof, a plurality of arcuate packing blocks slidably disposed in each of said recesses, means urging said blocks radially inwards against said rod, and guides on said housing slidably engaging the ends of said blocks and extending inwards from the outer periphery of said recesses and HIRAM C. RUGGLES. 

